Leicestershire CCC Publishes Further Steps In Response To ICEC Report

As a game, we are all committed to breaking down barriers, and making cricket the most inclusive sport in England and Wales.

Today, both The ECB and Leicestershire County Cricket Club has published details of further steps it will take “ and which we will work together as a game to implement - to achieve these ambitions and to tackle some of the challenges identified in the recent ICEC report.

Wide-ranging action aims to tackle discrimination and break down barriers for women and girls, people from lower socio-economic groups, and ethnically diverse communities. 

It will accelerate and bolster work already under way across the game designed to make cricket the UK’s most inclusive sport.

Leicestershire CCC's response includes:

• Moving the infrastructure and operations of our Women’s and Girls’ Pathway to our Cricket Pillar, aligning practices with the Boys’ Pathway. The move away from the recreational arm of the club will help accelerate the process and shows our commitment to championing Women’s and Girls’ cricket.

• Hosted two ‘double-header’ matchdays at Uptonsteel County Ground to showcase Women’s T20 cricket alongside Men’s cricket for the first time in the Club’s history.

• Hosted our Under 18 Girls at Uptonsteel County Ground for the first time in the Club’s history.

• Formed a ‘Diverse Independent Advisory Panel’ to advise, support, and scrutinise activity relating to discriminatory matters and unjust processes across Leicestershire CCC, as well as the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League and its clubs. This will ensure there is a clear structure whereby decisions of governance and arising disputes can be dealt with efficiently.

• Delivered Equality, Diversity & Inclusion workshops for staff and players, alongside external partners and the PCA, to promote a culture of education and inclusivity within Leicestershire CCC.

• Established the most diverse board of trustees of the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket Foundation to provide governance and leadership on matters pertaining to the recreational game in Leicestershire and Rutland and its future growth.

The ECB’s response includes:

• Enhanced EDI education to help create a game-wide transformation in culture.

• Further investment in the women’s game - a minimum of £25m per year above forecasted revenues from the women’s game 

• Establishing a new Cricket Regulator, which will be responsible for enforcement of regulations and carrying out investigations. 

• Increasing match fees for England Women to equalise them with England Men immediately, and working with Metro Bank to triple the number of girls’ club teams by 2026. 

• Collaborative work across the game to design an enhanced and expanded Talent Pathway that aims to remove barriers and increase opportunity. 

• Developing action plans, as requested by the ICEC, to tackle barriers for state school pupils and Black and other Ethnically Diverse communities.

• Investing an extra £2m into charity partners to boost their work in breaking down barriers, particularly for state school, Black and British South Asian children and young people “ the African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) Programme, Chance to Shine, Lord’s Taverners, MCC Foundation and South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA).

• Developing a game-wide Volunteering Strategy.

• Providing support and training across the cricket network to enhance understanding of discrimination and the management of complaints across the cricket network, as well as launching a charter setting out clear expectations of both complainants and the investigating body to ensure a fair and transparent outcome for all.

• Including enhanced EDI standards in the next County Partnership Agreements (CPAs) from 2025, and adding more ambitious County Board targets for gender diversity and ethnic diversity based on local demographics. Venues hosting major matches will be assessed against their performance against EDI minimum standards.

The latest ECB update can be found in full HERE.